Temple Ceremony in Pura Hyang Api

Pura Hyang Api is a sort of Dang Kahyangan Temple in Bali, with the Sang Hyang Gni Jaya deity sited there. It lies in Desa Klusa, Tegallalang Sub-Regency, Gianyar Regency, about 18 km from Gianyar Capital City, 34 km from Denpasar. On Saturday, 28 June 2003, Hindu Balinese are to welcome a traditional ceremony, in conjunction with Tumpek Uye, also known as Tumpek Kandang Holy Day.
Tumpek Uye is a holy day observed by Hindu adherents by holding a ritual directed to Sang Hyang Widhi God Almighty manifested as Sang Hyang Rare Angon, the Creator and Feeder of Animals, according to Gusti Ngurah Jelantik, a second ranking priest or pemangku. This is a Kuningan-related ceremony to attain safety and growth for all Wewalungan (animals and household beasts) as part of the Earth and its inhabitants.
Twelve pemangkus are to serve the Tumpek Uye or Kuningan traditional unique ceremony, including the tabuh rah ‘cock fight’ event reflecting the sincerity of adherents’ promise or nawur sesangi. The event takes place in the central court of the temple. According to Mangku Jelantik, tabuh rah only takes place at the celebration of Kuningan, otherwise in welcoming Tumpek Uye Day there would be no tabuh rah anymore because pemedek has paid off.
“Following the ritual cockfight, the sesangi is in order to go ahead with sesaji offerings and prayers,” Mangku Jelantik said. He added that the promise by pamedeks would go into realization at the same time when some animal he bred disappeared or the breeder became ill.
Some people sometimes place a bet but betting money in an amount not too large. Betting here is not an absolute affair, while the most significant is the sesangi pay off. The winning cock sometimes goes to the temple deity as an offering or goes with its owner to the latter’s home. (BTN/033)